Monday, June 23, 2008

My wedding dress, a.k.a. perfection

Hi, I have a wedding dress and it is perfect and everything is perfect and oh my god I can't get over it because it is just so amazing.

Okay. Deep breath. Let's start at the beginning. On Friday I didn't have to work and my sister had a short day, so she and I planned to meet up around noon and drive to the bridal salon to pick up my dress. I had planned to sleep in, but I woke up when Torsten did and couldn't fall back asleep. So instead I took a bath, and thought about my dress, and was nervous about it not fitting or looking terrible, but mostly happy and excited about the whole thing.

Sorry, speaking of happy and excited, there needs to be a brief interruption--OH MY GOD MY DRESS IT'S PERFECT IT'S SO PERFECT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A BAGFUL OF PERFECTION HANGING FROM MY CLOSET DOOR RIGHT NOW.

Ahem. Where were we? Oh right. So, in the early afternoon I met up with my sister and we drove out to the bridal boutique. The middle of a Friday was a nice time to go, because the store was nearly empty. I told the woman at the counter why I was there, and she went into the back and returned holding the dress in a big, clear plastic garment bag. As soon as I saw it I got this overwhelmed happy feeling. She brought us back into a dressing room and said she would be right back to help me into the gown.

Obviously though, I was not about to wait for her to come back, so I unzipped the bag immediately and had a little moment with the dress just to take in how beautiful it was. Then my sister helped me put it on and began lacing up the back while I looked in the mirror.

And, you guys, the second I saw myself in that dress in the mirror, I just knew. It wasn't even ON all the way and I already knew that I had made the exact right choice. I didn't cry, or get goosebumps. But it was so perfect. I immediately knew that Torsten would love the dress, despite my obsessive fear that he won't (which manifests itself through me showing him tons of pictures of dresses that have even one detail in common with mine and saying, "What do you think of that? What about the embroidery? What about the ruching?"), because it was just... I don't even know how to say it. It's just so perfect and amazing and also perfectly suits me and my style, even though I never would have thought that when I first picked it off the rack. And there is no way he can't like it because it is just so correct.

Seriously, everything about it is perfect. It is the exact right length and won't need hemming at all. The neckline is gorgeous. The detailing is amazing. The color is exactly right. Everything about it is just exactly as it should be.

And also? It gives me an amazing hourglass figure. I am a total pear shape and have a disproportionately small natural waist, and this dress totally emphasizes that while simultaneously disguising my stomach and hips. I won't even need any kind of bodyshaping undergarment, because the dress does that itself.

Plus, because it has a corset back, it needs hardly any alterations--it needs to be taken in a little bit at the chest (like I said, pear shape! All hips and no boobs!), and if I lose a whole lot more weight between now and the wedding it will have to be taken in a bit at the sides because the corset is already pulled pretty much as tight as it can go, and it needs a bustle added, but that's it. It's going to be very straightforward. I'm extremely happy about that.

I stood on that pedestal thing in front of the three-way mirror and admired the dress, and then they spread out the train and gave me a hand mirror so I could see it from the back, and it was just... well, all I can say is that for the first time that I can ever remember, I looked in a mirror without feeling fat. The dress was just so right. I didn't feel anything but happy and bridal and pretty. And that is such an amazing feeling, and so new for me.

Yesterday I unzipped the garment bag and looked at the dress again, stroking the satin and straightening the train and thinking about the day when I will wear that dress. And I felt simultaneously gleeful and peaceful, and I zipped it back up, and I went back to my computer and looked at all the pictures on Flickr again, and I was happy.

Yes, there are pictures on Flickr, in the same set as the original dress photos featuring my sister modeling the sample dress for me, but the new pictures are set to private, at least for right now. It's another one of those things where I feel like the element of suspense matters. Torsten hasn't seen any of the dress photos, including the original ones, and he knows not to look on Flickr, so it isn't that. It's just that the dress feels so special, and I don't want to make it so public, not right now when the wedding is still months away. But I love that the pictures are there, so I can look at them whenever I want.

I can't wait for the day when I will walk down the aisle in that dress to meet the love of my life on the other end.

63 comments:

  1. Speaking as someone who has seen the picture? You are spot on, in every way. Gorgeous dress, gorgeous you, just gorgeous in every way. Torsten is going to FLIP.

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  2. YAY!!!!! I tried on one gazillion dresses and I had the same experience when I put the ONE on - I didn't even have it all on before I was saying "Yes, yes, this is the one!"

    Can't wait to see the pictures!

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  3. I am DYING to see the pictures! DYING! GAH!

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  4. Oh I'm so glad it went well! Yay for wedding dresses! :)

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  5. Woo hoo for a perfect wedding dress! I cannot wait to see it!!!!!

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  6. i agree with setting them to private. i all about anticipation!! : )

    glad you LOVE it

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  7. I'm so glad you are so happy with the dress!!!

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  8. I missed the first pictures, but I just saw them and that dress is beautiful. I'm positively giddy for you and your excitement!

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  9. Hooray, best dress ever! I can't wait to see the pictures, even if it's not until your wedding day. Congrats!

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  10. I am so happy for you that it is so perfect! Isn't it nice when things just fall into place like that?

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  11. Yay! So happy for you. Can't wait to see pictures from your big day. It's going to be wonderful.

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  12. ARGHH!! You are SO excited about your perfect dress and all I want to do is SEE it!!! You big tease! I'm SO happy for you!

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  13. Keep the dress to yourself! I want to see it, but I really think you should.

    My dress needed no alterations. It was a miracle.

    And I did the same thing with Aaron. He hated everything I showed him. If he hated my dress, he had the good sense not to say so though.

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  14. Ah! You're killing me with the suspense! :)

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  15. Oh my gosh. This is so exiting. I'm sure you look gorgeous. I cannot wait to see photos!

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  16. Yay! So happy to hear that everything is perfect! What a great feeling :)

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  17. i'm so excited for you! there's definitely that feeling when it's the one for you. i can't wait to see pictures!!

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  18. CONGRATS! I am so happy you loved the dress & everything about it. Makes it all feel so much more real, no? Enjoy the happiness of this moment :)

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  19. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that you like your dress?

    That is so awesome! Congratulations and I can't wait to see pictures.

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  20. I loved this post. I can FEEL your excitement!

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  21. Okay well maybe YOU didn't get goosbumps but I did. Damn, I'm so excited for you. YAY, JESS!!

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  22. I've gotten so addicted to your blog in the past few weeks, and this post makes me so happy! Congratulations!!!

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  23. Yay, I'm internally jumping up and down and clapping for you (people at work would think I was strange if I did it for real!). I think loving your dress is the #1 most important part of the wedding. And HIP HIP HOORAY for no uncomfortable undergarments to wear. I'm hugely disproportionate (large on top, small waist), so I spent more on the corset then I did on my dress, and it was pretty uncomfortable.

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  24. Yay!! I am so excited for you!! I can't wait to see how it looks all together!

    xox

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  25. Yay!!! So happy for you! I'm dying to see pictures too, but I won't even post a single picture of myself, so I can certainly understand a desire to keep some things private. When the time comes (and I do feel somewhat as if I don't even have the right to ask this), may we see the official pictures of you in the gorgeous dress on the happy day?

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  26. I am so, so happy for you Jess!! I can't wait to see pictures.

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  27. Oh that sounds soooo lovely. Congratulations!

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  28. Oh, I am SO GLAD it's perfect! So glad!

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  29. YAY!!!! I'm SO happy for you. That's awesome.

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  30. I'm so excited for you. Really and truly! Now, if only I could muster up the motivation to go see my dress. It's arrived ... but still sits in wait at the store.

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  31. YAY!! YAY!! YAY!!!

    I can't wait to see the real deal, and I am so glad that it was everything you expected and more!

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  32. That's so fantastic. YAY! I'm thrilled for you.

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  33. how fun!!! i am excited for you. ;)

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  34. YAY, so glad that dress was perfect! But ARG, we have to stand around in suspense for another few months until we can see you in it!

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  35. Oh. Wait. Those pictures have you in the dress, right? We DID see it? They're absolutely beautiful. Sorry I'm viewing something that shouldn't be viewed...or else I misread about the password thing.

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  36. This post is so great! I'm so happy you have the perfect dress!

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  37. Congratulations on a fabulous dress! I love seeing wedding pictures.... so I won't peak at yours until I see official wedding pictures in a couple months! :)

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  38. OH YAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!! jess, i'm so excited / happy / thrilled! omg, that is SO BIG. you HAVE THE DRESS. in your hands! and it's perfect! i'm so happy for you!!

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  39. I am dying to see you in the dress! Also, you are adorable when you're excited. :)

    - F.P.

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  40. I'm so glad it was perfect!!! what a relief :-)

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  41. I'm so happy for you!! Torsten is going to die of happiness!

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  42. Jess, I am SOOO excited for you! This entry made my heart smile!

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  43. I can't even explain how happy I am for you? I can't WAIT to see the pictures. You're adorable =)

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  44. Congratulations, Jess! You knew it would be perfect for and it is. Nice work!

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  45. I'm so glad that you found your dream dress and that it fits perfectly. That is awesome.

    I was looking for wedding shoes at Nine West over the weekend and saw some really cute purple ones. It made me think of you. Maybe you should check out their site!

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  46. When I saw myself in my wedding dress for the first time, I felt so beautiful. There was no moment when I sighed and thought about how I'd look better if I was thinner. No disparaging thoughts at all, really. I felt like a princess.

    I'm so very glad you feel beautiful in your dress. Every woman deserves that feeling.

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  47. I've never commented before, but had to say this post was so touching! You seem so genuinely happy and non-bridezilla-y!

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  48. Coming from someone who is going to be getting married soon too, this post made me so happy. I'm so happy that you found such a lovely dress that makes you feel the way it does. Isn't it funny how a dress can manifest itself in that way? Anyway, congrats on the dress, and I can't wait to see pictures!

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  49. I'm just hoping it will be like that when I find the guy I want to wear a fancy dress FOR... I'm hoping I'll just know it's perfect and right. It sounds like you do. :-) Congratulations.

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  50. How fantastic! Congrats ... you are going to be so beautiful that day!

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  51. I am so. so. so. happy for you!

    To feel beautiful on your wedding day is exactly right!

    Can't wait to see the real pictures!

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  52. oh wowwww. i just breathed that out loud reading the post. it's just like a fairytale and i know that makes me sound lame but it is. i've GOT to see pics! so i'm going over to see the old ones again!!

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  53. aka perfection.... AGREEEEED. You're so lovely and this dress just proves it!

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  54. Congratulations! It is a beautiful dress! I can't wait to see the photos of you in it!

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  55. OMG the pictures are gorgeous. So flattering and pretty!! I'm sure it's absolute perfection :)

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  56. I'm so thrilled for you Jess, and can't wait to see pictures! :-)

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  57. i had to look at the pictures again to remember what the dress looked like and I can hardly wait to see pictures of the Real Thing.
    I am delighted for you that it's everything you hoped it would be. Hooray!!

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